Switch



Patented Apr. 25, 1939 UNITED STATES SWITCH Valentine Sherman, Houston. Tex., assignor of one-third to Earl W. Thoma and one-third to Walter Henry Scherer, both of llonstipi,

Application 0mm :0, 1931, Serial No. 111.1311

9Claims.

This invention relates to an electric switch, and more particularly to a switch of the type usually employed on walls or similar supports for con-- trolling the operation of lights and other. electical devices.

The general object of this invention is to provide a toggle switch for the purposes set forth which will eliminate many of the hazards and difllculties experienced in connection with prior art switches for the same purpose.

More specifically. it is an object of this invention to provide a switch for the purposes set forth in which the fire hazard will be substantially eliminated, the life of the switch will be greatly in-, creased as compared to the life of prior art switches, the number of moving parts will be re- I Other obiects and advantages invention will become apparent from the following description taken in connection with'the'accompanying drawing.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of a switch constructed in accordance with this invention, thefront cover plate having been removed therefrom.

Fig. 2 is a rear elevationof the same switch.

Fig. 3 is a vertical cross section through the switch shown in Figs. 1 and 2 taken along the line 8-8 of Fig. 2. v

Fig. 4 is a horizontal cross sectionof the switch shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the support or housing member having been removed.

Fig. 5 is a vertical cross section of the switch shown in Fig. 4 taken along the line i-l thereof.

Figs. 6 and 7 are views similar to Fig. 5 but looking in opposite directions from each other and showing a modification capable: of operation in either vertical or horizontal position.

Figs. 8 and 9 are cross sectional views taken along the lines 8-. and 0-0, respectively, of Fig. ll, and are similar to Figs. 6 and 7, but show a modification for use in a three-way control circult.

Fig. 10 is a side elevation of the switch element proper illustrated in Figs. 8 and'9.

Fig. 11 is a cross sectional view similar to Fig. 4 taken through the switch shown in Figs. 8 and 9.

Referring first to the form illustrated in Figs. 1 to 5, inclusive, the numeral 1 indicates a support or body element similar to that customarily employed in switches of this type, this body being hollowed out from its rear surface as indicated by the numeral 2, and having an opening 3 extending from this hollowed out portion to the front surface. In its rear surface the body i is provided at adjacent corners of the opening 2 with slotted portions 4 and I. respectively, adapted to receive the opposite ends of a bearing plate I formed of an electrically conductive material. At one of the opposite corners of the opening 2 this support is likewise formed with a slot 1 adapted to receive the bearing plate 8 likewise of an electrically conductive material. These bearing plates carry, respectively, bearings I and I0 adapted to receive the pintles ii and I! mounted in opposite portions of and extending from the switch body II which is formed of an electrically non-conductive material.

The bearing plate i is also provided with a plurality of depressions ll in the inner face thereof.. The body It isformed with abom II projecting laterally therefrom, and this boss is bored to receive a ball I. normally spring-pressed outwardly by a spring ll so that the ball II will resiliently engage the depresions ll previously mentioned, and maintain the switch body in position at either extremity of its travel.

The bearing plates .0 and I are also provided adjacent the positions in which they fit into the slots I and I with screws II and II, respectively. whereby external electrical connections may be made thereto.

The switch body it is hollowed out from one end thereof a portion of the distance toward the opposite end as shown at It, and in this hollowed out chamber or channel there is placed a globule II of mercury or other electrically conductive fluid. The outer end of this chamber ll is closed by means of a suitable plug 22.

The pintles ii and i2. respectively, are each connected within the body I! to a pair of electrical conductors 21 and .24 which have their opposite ends exposed within the chamber 20 adjacent one end thereof but spaced from each other so that when the globule of mercury is in the opposite end of this chamber the conductors 28 and 24, and hence the pintles II and II, will be electrically disconnected, but when the globule II is caused to move to the opposite end of the channel it will form a bridge or connection between the conductors a and N and hence cause the electrical connection ofthe pintles II and it. The body it is provided with an extending portion 2 projecting outside of the support member I, and-adapted to be operated as a toggle handle for actuating the switch.

It will be seen from the foregoing that when the switch is in the position illustrated in Fig. 3 with the toggle handle down, the globule ii of mercury will occupy the position shown in Fig. 4, and there will be no electrical connection between the pintles II and it or between the binding posts II and II. Hence the switch will be "off".

when the handle II is moved to its upper position, however, the globule of mercury will move to the end which is shown uppermost in Fig. 4, and whenin this position, it will form a connection between the conductors 28 and 24, between the pintles II and I2, and hence between the binding posts I8 and I9 and the switch will then be on".

In the form of invention shown in Figs. 6 and 7 the operation is similar with the exception that the switch will operate in either vertical or horizontal position. In this form, the body H3, instead of being provided with an elongated chamber 20, is provided with a channel I20 which fol- -lows substantially the outlin'e of a square or rectangle. The globule of mercury I2I is disposed within this channel and the opening through which this globule was introduced is closed by means of a plug I22. The conductors I22 and I24, respectively, instead of entering the channel at only one point, each as in the case of the conductors 28 and 24, each enter the channel at opposite corners thereof, as clearly shown in Figs. 6 and 7, so that when the mercury is in either the lower left or the upper right corner of the channel as seen in Fig. 6, it will form a contact between the'exposed end of the conduc tor I28 and the adjacent exposed end of the conductor I24, but when the mercury is in the lower right or upper left corner of the channel as seen in Fig. 6, it will not form contact between these conductors. It will be seen that a switch constructed in this manner may be operated either in a vertical position as shown in Fig. 3, or in a horizontal position with equal facility. As in the previously described form, the switch is operated by means of an extension I25 on the body II I. this extension serving as a toggle handle.

Referring now to Figs. 8 to 11, inclusive, the form of switch here illustrated is for use in cennection with so-called three-way circuits.

Instead of two conductor plates 8 and 8 as illustrated in Fig. 2, there are employed in this form three conductor plates 206, 208 and 221. The plates 208 and 208 are provided, respectively, with bearing portions 208 and 2I0 adapted to receive the pintles 2H and 2I2 corresponding in every respect to the pintles on the previously described forms. These pintles 2H and 2I2 are separately mounted in the body 2, this body 2I3 having a boss provided with a bore adapted to receive the ball 2I8 spring-pressed outwardly by means of a spring 2II into depressions 2 similar to depressions I4 in the plate 6. The plates 208 and 208 are provided with screws H8 and 2I8 for the same purpose as the screws I8 and I8 in Fig. 2, and the plate 221 is provided with a screw 228 for a similar purpose. The body 2| 3 has a channel 220 therein similar in all respects to the channel illustrated in Figs. 6 and 7, and a globule of mercury MI is positioned within this channel which is closed by a plug 222. The pintle 2, however, is connected to this channel at opposite corners thereof by means of a conductor 223 as clearly illustrated in Fig. 8, and the pintle 2I2 is connected to all Iour'corners of the channel 220 by means of a conductor 224 as shown in Fig. 9. I'he ball 2Ii makes contact through the spring 2I1 with a conductor 228, this conductor being connected to the two opposite corners of the channel 220 to which the conductor 223 is not connected. The switch is adapted to be actuated in the same manner as heretofore described by means of the handle portion 225.

It will be readily apparent from the forego ing that when the switch shown in Figs. 8 to 11, inclusive, is in one position, the mercury globule 22I will make contact between the conductor 224 and the conductor 228, and that when moved to a diiIerent position, it will make contact between the conductor 224 and the conductor 228. Thus, the terminal 2I9 will be selectively connected to the terminal 2I8 and to the terminal 228 as the switch is thrown from one position to the other. The terminal 2I8 corresponds, therefore, to the usual line"'terminal of a three-way switch, and the terminals 2I8 and 228 correspond to the terminals of a three-way switch which are usually connected to the other three-way switch a pair of such switches.

It will be readily apparent also from the foregoing that in every case the switches constructed in accordance with this invention will be substantially free from all fire hazard inasmuch as the contact is made and broken within a closed body, and because of the relatively small number of moving parts and the lack of any snap action or spring action the switch will be substantially without wear and extremely durable. It will also be seen that the switch will be comparatively simple to manufacture and inexpensive in construction, and that it will be noiseless in operation though at all times forming a perfect contact.

A device has, therefore, been provided whereby all of the objects and advantages sought by this invention will be accomplished.

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. In a toggle switch, a support having an opening therein, a pair of electrical conductors mounted within said support on opposite sides of said opening and having parts providing aligned bearings on opposite sides of said opening, an oscillatable switch body of electrically non-conductive material having an enclosed endless channel therein, supported aligned pintles of electrically conductive material extending from opposite sides of said body and having their outer ends pivotally connected by said aligned bearings, an electrical conductor extending from each of said pintles through the interior of said body and exposed to the interior of said channel at opposite portions thereof, the points where said conductors are exposed to the interior of said channel being spaced from but adjacent to each other.

2. In a toggle switch, a support having an opening therein, a pair of electrical conductors mounted within said support on opposite sides of said opening and having parts providing aligned bearings on opposite sides of said opening, an oscillatable switch body of electrically non-conductive material having an enclosed endless channel extending substantially along the four sidesof a rectangle, separated aligned pintles of electrically conductive material extending from opposite sides of said body and having their outer ends pivotally carried by said aligned bearings, an electrical conductor extending from each of said pintles through theinterior of said body and exposed to the interior of said channel at opposite corners of said rectangle, the points where said conductors are exposed to the interior of said channel being spaced from but adjacent to each other, a globule of electrically conductive fluid within said channel adapted to move from one corner thereof to the other as said body is oscillated on said pintles to make and break contact between said pintles, and means for making an external electrical connection to said first-mentioned electrical conductors.

3. In a toggle switch, a support having an opening therethrough, a pair of electrical conductors mounted within said body on opposite sides of said opening and having parts providing aligned bearings on opposite sides of said opening, a third electrical conductor mounted within said body and spaced from said first conductors, an oscillatable switch body of electrically non-conductive material having an enclosed endless channel therein, separated aligned pintles of electrically conductive material extending from opposite sides of said body and having their outer ends pivotally carried by said aligned bearings, means on said body adapted to trictionally engage said third electrical conductor in all positions of said body, said pair of pintles and said last mentioned means providing three electrical connections'between said switch body and said support, an electrical conductor extending from one of said connections through the interior of said body and exposed to the interior of said channel, at four substantially equally spaced points, a second conductor extending from another of said connections and exposed to the interior of said channel at two oppositely spaced points adjacent two of said four points, and a third electrical conductor extending through the interior of said body and exposed to the interior oi said channel at two oppositely spaced points adjacent the other two of said four points, a globule oi electrically conductive fluid within said channel adapted to move from one position to the other in said channel as said body is oscillated on said pintles to make and break contact between said electrical connections, and means for making external electrical connections to said first-mentioned electrical conduits.

4. In a toggle switch, an oscillatable switch body of electrically non-conductive material having an enclosed endless channel therein, separated aligned pintles of an electrically conductive material extending from opposite sides of said body for pivotally mounting said body, an electrical conductor extending from each 01' said pintles through the interior 01 said body and exposed to the interior of said, channel at opposite portions thereof, the points at which each o! said conductors is exposed to the interior of said channel being adjacent to corresponding points at which the other of said conductors is so exposed, and a globule of an electrically conductive fluid within said channel adapted to move therein as said body is oscillated on said pintles to make and break contact between said pintles.

5. In a toggle switch, 'an osciliatable switch body of electrically non-conductive material having an enclosed endless channel extending along the four sides oi a rectangle, a pair of electrical conductors extending through said body and each exposed to the interior of said channel at opposite corners of said rectangle, the points where said conductors are exposed to the interior of said channel being spaced from but adjacent to each other, a globule of electrically conductive fluid within said channel adapted to move from one corner'thereof to the other as the body is oscillated to make and break contact between said conductors, and means for making an exterior electrical connection to each of said conductors.

6. In an electrical switch, an oscillatable switch body of electrically non-conductive material having an enclosed chamber of substantially rectangular cross section in the plane of oscillation of said body, a pair of electrical conductors extending through said body and each exposed to the interior of said chamber at opposite corners of said rectangular chamber, the points where said conductors are exposed to the interior of said chamber being spaced from but adjacent to each channel at four substantially equally spaced points, the second of said conductors being exposed to the interior 0! said channel at two oppositely spaced points adjacent two of said points 01' exposure of said first conductor, and the third of said conductors being exposed to the interior 1 of said channel at two other oppositely spaced points adjacent the other two points of exposure of said first conductor, a globule of electrically conductive fluid adapted to move from one position to the other in said channel as said body is oscillated to make and break contact between said electrical connections. and means for making exterior electrical connections to said conductors respectively.

8. In an electrical switch, an oscillatable switch body of electrically non-conductive material having an enclosed chamber therein of substantially rectangular cross section in the plane of oscillation of said body, three electrical conductors extending through said body and exposed to the interior of said chamber, one of said conductors being exposed to the interior of said chamber substantially at the four corners of said rectangle, the second conductor being exposed to the interior of said chamber substantially at two of the opposite corners of said chamber adjacent two of the points of exposure of said first conductor, and the third electrical conductor being exposed to the interior of said chamber substantially at the other'two opposite corners thereoi. adjacent the other two points of exposure of said first conductor, a globule of electrically conductive fluid within said chamber adapted to move from one position to the other therein as said body is oscillated and to make and break contact between I,

said electrical conductors and means for making exterior electrical connections to said conductors.

'9. In a switch, an oscillatable switch body of electrically non-conductive material having a chamber therein, three electrical conductors extending through said body and exposed to-the interior of said chamber, one of said conductors being exposed to the interior of said chamber at two spaced points. the second 01' said conductors being exposed to the interior or said channel at a point adjacent one of said-exposed points and the third of said electrical conductors being exposed to the interior of said channel at a point adjacent .the other of the points of exposure or said first conductor, a globule of electrically conductive fluid within said channel adapted to move from one position to the other therein as said body is oscillated to make and break contact between said electrical conductors, and means for making exterior electrical connections to said electrical conductors.

vammrmn SHERMAN. 

